A writer should always be supplied with coffee (or tea), a computer, pens and notebooks, and a cheerleader in the back dedicated to squelching all the negative thoughts that plague writers. But in addition to those essentials, there are a few more tools fiction writers would benefit having at their fingertips.
These seven tools are always at my fingertips when I prewrite, draft, or edit. I’ve curated these resources over the years and in this post I decided it was time to share them with you in a neat list. These are the weapons in my arsenal. The tea selections on regular rotation in my tea box. The staples in my kitchen’s pantry.
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7 Staple Writing Tools and Resources for Fiction Writers
1. Dictionary
Every writer should have a dictionary. Thankfully in our present age, we don’t need to lug around a ten-pound book. The dictionary is on our computers, even in our pockets.
My go-to dictionary is Merriam-Webster.com. You can download the app or search the website. I prefer this dictionary because it is a common source of reference for reputable style guides, publishing houses, and companies.
When I’m writing, Merriam-Webster.com is ALWAYS an open tab on my laptop.
2. Thesaurus
Who hasn’t used a thesaurus? I always keep a tab on my laptop open to a thesaurus for quick research. It’s a powerful tool all fiction writers should have in their toolbox.
My preferred thesaurus is free and online: WordHippo.com. On my laptop, this tab is open right next to the Merriam-Webster tab. What I love about this thesaurus is that they neatly organize the synonyms based off the searched word’s form—verb, noun, adjective, etc. WordHippo makes it easy to find the right synonym and saves me time so I can get back to the act of writing.
WordHippo.com is my go-to thesaurus—I rarely write or edit fiction without it.
3. Style Guide
May favorite aspect about style guides is that they answer questions. What prepositions, if any, should I be capitalizing in a title? How does proper spacing work for an ellipsis? Do I capitalize after a colon? You’ll find answers in a style guide.
There are multiple style guides, but my go-to is The Chicago Manual of Style because that is the most referenced style guide in my circle of writers, editors, publishers, and companies.
I always keep The Chicago Manual of Style handy, whether the tomb is open beside me or pulled up online.
4. Christian Style Guide for Christian Writers
If you are a fiction or nonfiction writer writing in the Christian market, you’ll find style guidance in The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style.
This style guide answers questions like what religious words or terms should be capitalized and how to format Bible verses within prose. Christian publishers may have their own style guides for these types of things, but The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style is a great place to start for yourself.
When I’m editing Christian books, I keep my copy of The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style nearby.
5. Emotion Thesaurus
While I’m prewriting, drafting, and especially editing, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is often sitting beside me. This book helps me to describe emotions with visceral reactions or learn how emotions I’m not super familiar with might manifest in characters.
It is a valuable staple in my writing toolbox, and I know many writers who love this book too.
Also, check out my interview with these amazing authors!
6. Positive Trait Thesaurus
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have contributed hundreds of pages of resources to writers throughout the years. Another thesaurus authored by them which I frequently refer to is The Positive Trait Thesaurus.
I use this book when developing and refining my characters. It’s always close by while I’m creating my cast, and it’s transformed my process of character development in the best way.
I use the physical copy of the book, but there is also an online subscription through One Stop for Writers where you can gain access to all of Angela and Becca’s thesaurus resources.
7. Negative Trait Thesaurus
The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela and Becca is the flip side of The Positive Trait Thesaurus. You use the latter to define the positive aspects of your character and the former to uncover their shortcomings. Both sides are essential to crafting relatable, human-like characters.
My copy of this thesaurus makes a home on my desk in the development and refining stages of my characters, but there’s also a subscription based version online.
Want to check it out for free before committing to a purchase (I see you!)? Go to this page on One Stop for Writers and you can browse through a few sample entries.
And there you have it. Seven tools all writers should know about and not shy away from utilizing. Writing is already a mentally exhausting endeavor, why not take assistance from these reputable resources proven by writers to work?
I’d love to know—
Which of the seven resources have you already used OR will start using today? Share in the comments.
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S.J. Siedenburg is a thriller & fantasy novelist, an editor, and a bibliophile with a passion for stories and helping writers finish their novels. She’s the author of the guidebooks Character Presentation, Before the First Draft, and the How to Write a Novel online course. Six of her short stories have been published through writing contests. Sarah lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” —John 1:5